1. Aquaculture development – 40 years lesson
Dr. Torbjørn Åsgård
Director of research

2. Trends in modern aquaculture – Aquaculture markets – Size and growth
Aquaculture plays a rapidly growing role in the global production of seafood*
Aquaculture, China
Aquaculture, World excluding China
Wildcatch, China
Wildcatch, World excluding China
Part used for food, World
Source: FAO

3. Global production in aquacultutre

4. Trends in modern aquaculture – Aquaculture markets – Size and growth
The aquaculture business* has several segments, with intensive farming growing in relative importance
Intensive fish farming: Fish farming controlled environment and feeding to maximise production
Extensive fish farming: Fish farming largely relying on natural environmental conditions
Ex farm sales
main species 2004
Ex farm sales
main species 2009
13 %
Intensive finfish farming
14 %
Extensive finfish farming
37 %
21 %
45 %
Shrimp farming
21 %
Shellfish farming (oysters, etc)
28 %
21 %
€ 38 billion
€ 48 billion
* Excluding Algea and Seaweed
Source: Nofima, FAO;

5. Intensive Aquaculture Fish production*
Trends in modern aquaculture – Aquaculture markets – Size and growth
Salmon still dominates the intensively farmed finfish business, followed by trout, bass and bream. Tilapia is switching from largely extensive to more intensive
Intensive Aquaculture Fish production*
Atlantic Salmon
Chinook (King) salmon
Coho (silver) salmon
Sea trout
European seabass
Gilthead seabream
Atlantic cod
Tilapia Sales to US** MT
* In addition MT of trout is farmed in Europe, Source: FAO
** Sales to US is estimated to be +/- 1/4 of global intensive farmed tilapia in 2004

6. Source: AKVAFORSK estimates, FAO
Trends in modern aquaculture – Aquaculture markets – Size and growth
Significant growth is expected in aquaculture for the coming years (4% p.a.), particularly in intensive farming (7% p.a.)
Expected developments in main aquaculture species
Source: AKVAFORSK estimates, FAO

7. Global aquaculture 2004 (from FAO)
Quantity in million tonnes
Freshwater fishes 24
Aquatic plats 14
Molluscs 13
Crustaceans 4
Diadromous fish 3
Marine fish 1.5
Value in billion USD
Freshwater fishes 25
Aquatic plats 7
Molluscs 10
Crustaceans 14
Diadromous fish 8
Marine fish 5
2009
Fish from aquaculture and consume fisheries equal in quantity

8. Production of salmon in Norway

9. Production of marine species in Norway

10. Total aquaculture and fishery in Norway

11. Production in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland (2006)
Common carp: 92%
Gold fish: 3%
Sturgeon: 2%
Nothern pike: 2%
Rainbow trout: 1%
Estonia
Rainbow trout: 75%
Common carp: 11%
Sturgeon: 8%
European eel: 6%
Lithuania
Common carp: 95%
Rainbow trout: 3%
Gold fish: 1%
Nothern pike: 1%
Poland
Rainbow trout: 51%
Common carp: 47%
Sturgeons: 1%
Catfish: 1%

12. From 1973
From 1971

13. Species to start with and where to start ?
Salmon
Rainbow trout
Fresh water trout
Sea Trout
Arctic char
Crossings
Marine species
Fresh water species
Warm water species

14. What has changed in Norway?
Salmon vs honey
Independent industry vs addition to fishing or farming
Early ears: small units - high cooperation fast developments
To day: large units – cooperation and competition
Cooperation: industry – research institutions – public administration
To day: 3 times more salmon meat than meat from all traditional domestic animals together

15. Research through the value chain
Market and
consumer
Slaughter and
processing
Sea water
phase
Fresh water
phase
Brood stock
and eggs
Fish feed
Raw material
Efficiency, quality and food safety

16. From basic research to application
Contract research
Project duration of 0,3 – 1 year
Private funding (often included public incentives)
Research projects with industry participation
Long term projects – 1-3 years
Public/private funding
Basic competence building and research
Long term projects – 3-10 years
Public funded

17. Nofima’s major research areas within aquaculture:
Genetics and selective breeding
Nutrition and feed development
Knowledge about raw materials
Fish welfare
Disease prevention
Sustainable production
Processing and product development
Marine Biotechnology

18. Breeding and genetics
More than 30 years of experience from applied genetic research in aquaculture species
The research activity of the institute is conducted in close collaboration with the aquaculture sector, securing rapid implementation of important results.
Till date, basic research and applied work on genetic improvement based on selective breeding have covered 11 species worldwide
Increased growth rate
Increased feed conversion ratio
Increased disease resistance

19. Produductivity 1940 Productivity, % (Ref. 1940) Year Broiler Cow Pig
300
Cow
Pig
Productivity, % (Ref. 1940)
200
Salmon
Tilapia
100
Year
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
Modifisert etter Eknath et al., 1991

20. 15% increase per generation
Significantly shorter production cycle
1975
2000
2005
Smolt 16 8
Growout 40 20
Total 56 28 24
15% increase per generation

21. Genetic gain, Atlantic salmon Selected (5G) vs. Wild
S - W, %
Growth
+113
Feed consumption
+40
Protein retention +9
Energy retention
+14
FCR, feed/gain
-20
Thodesen et. al., 1999
Nofima Marin presentasjon

22. Genetic Improvement of Farmed Tilapia
GIFT tilapia with
90% faster growth (5 gens)
Higher survival
rates
Three fish crops per year (vs 2)
Has had large impact on overall fish production in Asia & Latin America
Lead to higher productivity, profit and yield potential.
UNDP, ADB
Phillipines Institutes and Universities

23. Salmon farming in Norway 2003
The cost of producing salmon %
Salmon farming in Norway 2003

24. Changes in composition of salmon feed

25. SALMON FEED DEVELOPMENT IN NORWAY: Feed cost per kg fish (fixed 2006 prices)
Euros/kg
IMPORTANT FACTORS:
Dry feed
High energy diets
Reduced FCR
Replacement of fish meal and oil
Reduced feed price
Feed management

26. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) in Norwegian Salmon farming

27. Feed development for many species internationally
Cod
Salmon
Rainbow trout
Arctic char
Striped bass
Sturgeon
Tilapia
Sea urchins
King crab
Lobster
Shrimp
Oysters
Scallops
Sole
Halibut

28. Production related disorders - deformities
Septum defect
Deformed head

29. Spine deformities in salmon induced by temperature at egg incubation
8 oC
10 oC
Stable temperatures
Spine deformities in salmon induced
by temperature at egg incubation
Identified by x-ray at size 60-80g %
Chasing deformity genes
Nofima has found a link between temperature and heart deformities:
We have found the gene that codes for Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP), that regulates heart development negatively
Expression of this gene is controlled by temperature during embryogenic development
 High temperature gives increased production of ANP, which supresses the development of the heart
 incubation temperature for eggs were immediately adjusted by the industry

31. Feed and nutrition Lipid, lipid metabolism, cell culture
Feedstuffs, feed formulation, feed technology, feeding
Protein, amino acids, metabolism
Preventivehealth
Pigmentation

32. Nofima – an important player in international aquaculture R&D
We have had aquaculture projects in more than 25 countries around the world
Nofima will increase its international focus through projects and by establishing sub-units in selected countries (First Chile, then Asia?)

33. Thank you!